Draft-rigging for railway rolling-stock.



W. R. DIEHL. DRAFT RIGGING FOVR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK.

Patented Oct. 5 191.5. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l..

v APPLICATION FILED JAN-26. 1915.

W. R. DIEHL.

DRAFT RIGCING FGR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK. APPLICATION FILED 1m26.191s.

1,155,896. Patented 001;. 5, 1915.

i 2 sains-SHEET 2. l

- Mill" Hr. N

Q 'fx n WALTER.R. DIEHL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. Y v

:DRAFT-RIGGING FOR RAILWAY ROLLING-STOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 5, raie.

Application filed January 26, 1915. Serial No. 4,521.

v T all whom t may concern.'

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Be itr known that I, WALTER R. DIEHL, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Al'- legheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Rigging for Railway Rolling-Stock, of which the following is aspecilication. f

This invention relates to draft rigging for railway lrolling -stock and particularly to means adapted to coact with the draw-bar for minimizing the shock and strain due to drafting and buffing of such railway rolling stock, it being understood that there is included within the term railway rolling stock all that equipment movableon the rails having means of connection one with the other, such as cars and locomotives.

The main object of the invention having been stated, the invention has for its furtherobject the provision of means whereby there is an absorption of the vibration and jar incident to the coupling and movement of the railway rolling stock, the means of absorption in the present embodiment of the in# vention being interposed between the drawbar and the meansfor connecting the drawbar to the sills,- usually the center sills of such railwav rolling stock, the present embodiment of the invention consisting more specifically in the provision of'interposed mechanism in which friction disks and springs are a part of the whole, constituting an efficient and satisfactory means for absorbing the shock'vand strain of buiiing so that the durability of suchl railwayv rolling stock is prolonged and increased as compared with railway' 'rolling stock having equipment now in common use. f

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in Jdetail, ref-l erence will be'V had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 illustrates a top plan view of a draft rigging embodying the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates a sectional view on a line corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 illustrates an end view of a combined follower and friction disk; Fig. 5

illustrates a side elevation of the combined follower and friction disk showing a plate or disk rod associated therewith; Fig. 6 illustrates an end view of the device as it appears in'Fig. 5; Fig.l 7 illustrates a face view of a friction disk or plate; Fig. 8 illustrates a sectional view thereof; Fig. 9 illustrates a side elevation or face view ofa stationary friction disk; Fig. 10 illustrates a sectional view thereof; Fig. 11 illustrates la friction disk of another form; and Fig. 12 illustrates a sectional view thereof.

In these drawingsl denotes a shell or housing of a friction gear on' the innersurface of which there is a plurality of spirals or helices 16 and 17 Vwhich coperate withv fins or lugs 18 projecting-from the edges of the rotating friction disks 19, .the said lugs having beveled surfacesv 2O .forming cams which engage the spirals of the housing so that the cammingaction resulting between the said beveled surfaces and the said spirals results in rotatingor turning the disks when movement is imparted to said'disks longitudinallv of the housing as is the case, as will presently appear, when ypressure or pull is exerted through the draw -bar.`

At one end of the'housing, there is a follower 21 having its rear faceprovided with a vertically disposed'slot 22 forming a seat for the yoke 23, the said yoke having its outer extremity connected tor a draw-bar 2a so thatmovement of the drawba'r'is communicated to the yoke as in yordinary draft rigging. l p

25 illustrates the ordinary en d sill of acar frame and 26 the ordinary center sills of such car'frame construction, the said center sills constituting guides and supports for the ioo construction, the said stationary disk being' here shown as having conveXed side surfaces and the rotating disk as having side conveXities so that when the disks are forced into contact, the rotating disks will frictionally engage and ride on the stationary disk and the relative movement of these disks will serve to absorb shock and vibration incident to the coupling of cars and rolling stock.

Nithin the housing and coacting with the disks for the purposes stated, is a plurality of tension springs, preferably of unequal strength and rigidity, the said invention being here shown as having a relatively heavy outer spring 33, a somewhat weaker intermediate spring 34C and a relatively light inner spring 35, the said spring being coiled one around the other successively from the inner to the outer spring and the said springs have their ends abutting one of the disks on the disk rod and the opposite ends abutting a shoulder of the casing or the inner end of the draft bar, it being seen from an inspection of F ig. i of the drawings that the outer or heavier spring 33 engages the shoulder 36 and the other springs engage the inner end of the draft bar.

The construct-ion or manner of assembling the disk rod and the follower is immaterial as they may be separate or integral according to the wishes of the manufacturer, and as this detail of construction is not important and may be modified to suit particular requirements, the said joint between these parts is not shown.

ln operation, the assembled or nested springs within the housing collectively operate to maintain an initial pressure on the disks situated on the disk rod and the spirals or helices of the shell or housing regardless of whether the said disks are stationary as regards their rotation or are rotatable with relation to the stationary disks.

The casing and parts associated therewith are supported between the center sills 26 on the longitudinal guides 37 and the longitudinal movement of the shock absorbing mechanism with relation to the guides is limited by the lugs 38 at the outer end andy the lugs 39 at the inner end.

ihen in operation, draft is exerted on the coupler, the shell or housing abuts the lugs 38 through the draw-bar and yoke and the follower is drawn or forced into the casing or housing, carrying with it the friction disks or plates which are on the disk rod and such action compresses the outer spring, thus gradually increasing the frictional Contact between the disks and serving to retard the movement of the follower with relation to the casing for it is to be seen from the drawing and from the foregoing description that the movement of the disks 19 longitudinally of the casing results in their rotation because of the engagement of the lugs thereof with the helices, suoli rotation of the movable disks with relation to the stationary disks serving to create a grinding or frictional engagement between the faces of said disks, which aids in retarding the movement of the follower yet affording such yielding action as to preclude undue shock or vibration.

It is the purpose of the inventor to regulate the frictional contact or engagement of the rotating disks and the stationary disks and this may be done by diminishing the tension of the springs or by increasing or diminishing the number' of pairs of stationary and rotatable friction disks.

In the arrangement shown in the drawing, the inner springs which have their ends abutting the draw-bar are of uniform tension during the operation of the device, since they are free to follow the draw bar. Their function, therefore, is to maintain an initial and uniform tension on the friction disks whereas the outer spring has its tension increased ordiminished according as the follower moves longitudinally of the casing.

The follower may butt the buffer lugs 39 when the coupler is forced back in which operation, the shell or housing with the friction disks and springs are forced back over the follower and this reversal of movement results to the same degree in causing the rotation of the movable disks and the increase of pressure on said disks, due to the compression of the outer spring, thus making it possible for the device to operate regardless of whether the rolling stock is bufi'ed or drawn.

rllhe construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the foregoing specification and it will be obvious that various changes may be resorted to in the proportions and details of construction, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim l. In a friction draft gear, the combina tion of a coupler-draw-bar and yoke, a housing, guides whereby the housing is supported to move longitudinally of a car, rotatable friction disks in the housing, stationary friction disks with relation to and in engagement with which the movable disks travel, means for communicating the motion of the dr w bar to the disks, means for guiding the disks longitudinally of the housing, means for causingl the rotation ofthe movable dis s, during their travel.

2. in a friction draft gear, the combination of a conpler-draw-barand yoke, a housing, longitudinal guides on which the housing is movable, guides for the yoke, helices interiorly of the housing, friction disks.y supported within the housing, means for holding the friction disks in contact, means on certain of the friction disks for engaging the helices, means for movingthe disks longitudinally of the casing, whereby the means engaging the helices causes rotation of the disks, and means for communicating the motion of the draw bar to said disks.

3. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a coupler-draw-bar and yoke, a housing, longitudinal guides on which the housing is movable, guides for the yoke, helices interiorly of the housing, friction disks supported within the housing, meansfor holdin'g the friction disks in contact, means on certain of the friction disks for engaging the helices, means for moving the disks longitudinall57 of the casing, whereby the meansV engaging the helices causes rotation of the disks, means for increasing the tension on the disks as they move. longitudinally of the housing, and means for communicating the motion of the draw-bar to said disks. Y I n A-lf. In a friction draft gear, the combina-- tion of a coupler-draw-bar and yoke, a housf ing, guides in which the housing is supported and with relation to which said housing is slidable, yoke guides, means for coupling the yoke to the draw bar whereby the movement` of the draw bar is communicated to the yoke, helices interiorly of the housing, an annular shoulder near the end of said housing, a series of friction disks arranged in tivo series, one series of which is stationary and the other of which is rotatable, means on the rotatable disksv engaging the helices, means for moving the disks longi tudinally of the casing whereby the camming action of the helices communicates motion to the rotatable disks, and means for holding one series of friction disks in contact with the other series thereof.

5. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a coupler-draw-bar and yoke, a housing, guides in which the housing is supported and with relation to which said housing is slidable, yoke guides, means for coupling the yoke to the draw bar whereby the movement of the draw bar is communicated to the yoke, helices interiorly of the housing, an annular shoulder near the end of said housing, a series of friction disks arranged in two series, one series of which is stationary and the other of which is rotatable, means on the rotatable disks engaging the helices, means for .moving the disks longitudinally of the casing whereby lthe camming action of the helices communicates motion to the rotatable disks, means for normally holding the friction disks in contact and means for increasing the pressure of the disks against one another according to the longitudinal movement of said disks.

6. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a coupler-draw-bar and yoke, a housing, guides on which the housing is longitudinally movable, helices and an annular shoulder interior-ly o-f therhousing, rotatable and non-rotatable friction disks within the housing, means for supporting them in assembled relation, means for moving the friction disks. longitudinally of the housing, means for turning the rotatable' disks as said disks are moved longitudinally of the housing, and means for communicating the motion of th-e draw bar to said housing.

7. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a coupler-draw-bar and yoke, a housing, guides on which the housing is longitudinally movable, helices and an annular shoulder interiorly of the housing, rotatable and non-rotatable friction disks withinthe housing, means for supporting them in assembled relationmeans for moving the friction disks longitudinally of the housing, means for turning the rotatable disks as said disks are moved longitudinally of the casing, and means for holding the rotatable disks in frictional contact with the non-rotatable disks. v

8. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a coupler-draw-bar and yoke, ahousing, guides onwhich the housing is longitudinally movable, helices and an annular shoulder interiorly of the housing, rotatabley and non-rotatable friction disks within the housing, means for supporting them in assembled relation, means for moving the friction disks, longitudinally of thehousing, means for turning the rotatable disks as said disks are moved longitudinally of the housing, means for holding the rotatable disks in frictional contact with the non-rotatable disks, and means for increasing the pressure on the disks as they move longitudinally of the casing.l

9. In a friction draft gear, the combina-v tion of a coupler draw-bar and yoke, a

housing, means forV supporting the housing' whereby it may move longitudinally of a car, helices and an annular shoulder interiorly of the housing, two series of alternating friction disks, a rod for supporting the said disks, projections on the edges of the rotatable disks engaging the helices of the casing, whereby movement of the disk longitudinally of the casing results in the rotation lof said disks, a tension member having one end engaging an end disk and the opposite end engaging the shoulder of the housing whereby pressure is exerted on the said disk, and means for communicating the motion of the draw bar to said disks.

1Q.V In a friction draft gear, the combination of a coupler-draw-bar and yoke, a housing, means for supporting the housing to move longitudinally, guides for the yoke, helices and anannular shoulder within the housing, rotatable and non-rotatable disks alternately positioned in the housing, means on the rotatable series for engaging the helices and intermeshing therewith to turn said 4disks while they move longitudinally of the sion members bearing against the end disk of the series and against the shoulder of the housing, and tension members bearing against the end disk and against the drawbar.

11. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a housing having internal helices and an annular shoulder or spring seat at one end. of the housing, said housing having an opening' through its end for the passage of secondary buffing springs adapted to be seated against a draw-bar.

l2. ln a friction gear, the combination of a shell or housing having internal helices and an annular shoulder or spring seat at one end of the housing, said housing having an opening through its end, a draw bar connected to the end of the housing, friction disks in the housing, a spring interposed between the end friction disk and the annular shoulder for exerting pressure to increase the frictional contact o-f the disks, springs engaging the end disk and having 'their opposite ends through the opening in the housing and bearing against the draw bar, means for communicating motion to the disks longitudinally of the casing, and means on certain of the disks for engaging the helices of the housing whereby movement of the disks longitudinally of the casing results in rotating said disks.

13. in a friction draft gear, the combination of a housing having internal helices, a follower, means for mounting the follower and housing whereby they have movement longitudinally of each other, friction disks carried by the follower, means for holding f the disks in frictional Contact, means for creating relative movement of the follower, and housing, and means whereby said movement communicates rotary motion to certain of the friction disks.

ln a friction draft gear, the combination of a series of single acting tension springs and a series of contacting frictional disks, double acting drafting and buiiing springs for increasing the frictional contact of the disks, means for communicating motion of a draw bar to the double acting springs and housing, means for creating relative movement of the disks and housing, and means for causing the rotation of certain of the friction disks during such relative movement.

ln testimony whereof, l affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER R. DIEHL.

Witnesses SUE B. FRITZ, RICHARD Towivsnim.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

